Blog

Sexual abuse has been a hot topic in the media lately due to the #MeToo movement, USA gymnastics and high-profile individuals who have been exposed for sexual assault. Repeated exposure can trigger memories of sexual abuse to those who have personally experienced it.

As many of us know, the key to successful relationships is communication. Healthy communication or lack of it can make or break a relationship -- whether it is a relationship at home or at work. Communication is an active challenge in the best of times, but when you add in the extra roadblocks of mental illness, the path can be even more difficult.

Suicide is the tenth most common cause of death in the United States. People may consider suicide when they are hopeless and can't see any other solution to their problems. September is suicide prevention awareness month and a good time to revisit the myths and facts about suicide.

We as a society are aware of the need to be preventive with many aspects of our health. We know that we should be going to the primary care physician minimally once a year for a check-up. We go to the dentist every six months to prevent tooth decay. But when it comes to our mental health, we tend to reject the idea of professional help as only necessary for “really bad” problems.

Everybody knows THAT PERSON. That person who always seems happy and peaceful. That person who never seems stressed or down. That person who always greets us with a smile and sincerely seems pleased to see us. Did you ever wonder how that person does it? Don’t they ever get angry, epressed or fed up? Where does all that joy come from? The secret is gratitude.

It is what it is. This is a commonly accepted phrase nowadays, but it has a deeper meaning than what it may imply. "It is what it is" is not to say that you agree with "what it is," or that "what it is" does not have an impact on your life. It simply means you have accepted what it is and moved past it.

The stress of witnessing a traumatic event can take an emotional and physical toll. Whether you were directly involved in the event or exposed to it after the fact, it’s important to know more about traumatic stress and how it can impact you.

All humans want to be close to others. We need relationships that provide closeness and support. We want to give and receive love. An emotional connection occurs between two people when there is an exchange of feelings and a bond is formed.

The constant barrage of negativity in the news, political turmoil, community unrest, violence and trauma of the past year have left their mark in many ways, some positive and many negative, with outcomes yet unknown.